The state championship Collins High School football team and cross-country runners Gabby Karas and Jay Solinger were recognized Thursday during the session of the Kentucky General Assembly. While there the students met with state Sen. Paul Hornback (R-Shelbyville) and state Rep. Brad Montell (R-Shelbyville) along with getting a history lesson from Collins’ teacher and assistant football coach Phil Bell.

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Assistant Coach Phil Bell talks to the team on capitol steps.

Shelby County’s unemployment rate fell to 6 percent in December, which was among the 10 lowest rates in the state, according to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Unemployment rates fell in 98 Kentucky counties between December 2012 and December 2013, while 14 county rates increased and eight stayed the same.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate at 5.5 percent. It was followed by Fayette County, 5.6; Scott County, 5.7; Daviess County, 5.8; Oldham County, 5.9; Boone, Shelby, Union and Warren counties, 6 each; and Caldwell, Franklin, Madison, Simpson and Spencer counties, 6.1 percent each.

Leslie County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate, at 15.7 percent.

Among other counties around Shelby, Jefferson County is at 7.5 percent, Henry County is at 7.5 and Anderson County is 6.3.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work.

They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.

Parent Academy set for Feb. 11

Shelby County Public Schools’ first Parent Academy of 2014 has been scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Shelby County High School. Its focus is on College and Career Readiness at the elementary level.

Topics to be discussed include technology, intervention and enrichment and advocating for your child. Every parent of an elementary student is invited.

Early registration is encouraged and can be completed by going to the “Parent Academy” area www.shelby.kyschools.us,

All attendees who participate in the entire academy will receive free admission to the SCHS varsity basketball game that evening.

Organ donor registry growing

Shelby County residents contributed significantly to a record year in 2013 for Circuit Court Clerks of Kentucky’s organ donor program. The year showed that 44.8 percent of Kentuckians contributing $1 with their license fees, the organ donor registry increasing by 10 percent and 42.5 percent of Kentuckians are registered donors.

“We simply ask everyone if they would like to donate one dollar to the Kentucky Organ Donor program, and if they wish to be a registered donor,” Shelby County Circuit Clerk Lowry Miller said. “It’s just one part of our job at the circuit clerk’s office, but we know it makes an incredible difference to transplant patients in need.”

Miller said Shelby County residents donated $5,475 to Trust for Life, and 1,139 joined the registry. That means 49 percent of Shelby County residents are registered.

State figures show that 299 individuals received organ transplants and hundreds more received tissue or cornea transplants. More than 120,000 patients remain on the waiting list.

Pipeline’s Anderson impact

The Bluegrass Pipeline would pump an estimated $1.215 million a year into Anderson County’s taxing districts once it’s fully operational, according to data released by the company proposing to build it.
If that’s the case and the funds are distributed as is other ad valorem tax revenue, the Anderson County School District would by far be the largest recipient and would receive an additional $766,422 each year from the pipeline, based on its current property tax rate at $5.52 per $1,000 of assessed value.
It would also make the pipeline by far the county’s largest taxpayer, more than doubling the amount paid by the current top taxpayer, Wild Turkey Distillery, which paid $520,474 in 2013.
That the pipeline would pay such a high tax bill locally came as a surprise to local and state officials who questioned if that would be the case.
Tom Droege, a spokesman for the company, said it is “comfortable” with the $1.215 million figure.

No Fairness in Campbellsburg

There will not be a Fairness Ordinance in the city of Campbellsburg. That proposed ordinance died for lack of a motion to adopt it at the city’s monthly meeting.

Mayor Rex Morgan allowed for public comment on the Fairness Ordinance, but he limited speakers to city residents and gave each 3 minutes. Three community members spoke in favor of the ordinance, and two spoke against its adoption.

Tommy Smith said he thinks this ordinance would protect the rights of all people.

“Treating everyone fairly with dignity and respect are Campbellsburg values,” Smith said. “And fairness is great for business. It shows that Campbellsburg is a welcoming place where all people are treated with dignity and respect.”

Kevin Burk encouraged the city to “make history” by joining other towns in Kentucky that had adopted Fairness Ordinances or are currently considering their adoption.

“There is so much momentum for civil rights in our country right now, I’d like to see Kentucky be part of it,” Burk said.

Shawn Golden, pastor of Campbellsburg Christian Church, asked the city not to adopt the ordinance. His primary reasons were scripture-based, but he also told a cautionary tale of repercussions to a business that did not want to service same-sex couples.

Parks athletic meeting Wednesday

Shelby County Parks & Recreation will host its second public forum for the athletic programs at Clear Creek Park at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Waldridge Center in Clear Creek Park. This program is athletics programs only and not about every aspect of the parks program.

The invitation is open to all coaches, children, parents, family members etc. Each forum is identical, so if you can't make the first date, you have a second chance.

There will be updates on current programs and potential future programs, and public input will be sought athletic events, sports and ideas to help improve programs and keep them moving forward.

Wright Elementary will hold a meeting of its Site-Based Decision-Making Council at 4 p.m. on Feb. 11.

Shelby County High School’s SBDM will meet at 4 p.m. Feb. 13.

Roadwork, closings:

Interstate 64:In addition to tonight’s closure of the right lane eastbound on I-64 between Simpsonville and Exit 35 in Shelbyville, lane closures and delays are possible at any time from the Welcome Center to half-mile east of KY 55 (mile points 27.9 to 32.8) because of roadway widening. Lane closures are possible Sunday through Friday from 7 p.m. each evening until 5 the following morning and on Saturdays from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Sundays. A 12-foot width restriction is in place for the eastbound lanes of I-64 in this work zone.

KY 1848:Shoulder closures and construction delays possible at the I-64 interchange (mile points 4.6 to 6.4) because of roadway widening. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. The speed limit is reduced to 35 MPH in the work zone.